Although Coulson only received vague answers from Anton, they confirmed many of his suspicions.
Armed with sufficient intelligence, Coulson finally felt prepared to report back to Nick Fury at headquarters and begin devising a response plan.
After Coulson left, Anton roamed freely around the crater site.
He approached Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor, and attempted to lift it. Predictably, he failed.
According to the hammer basic lore, Mjolnir could only be lifted by someone deemed "worthy." Whoever managed to lift it would then "possess the power of Thor."
Generally, those considered worthy were people with "pure hearts" and "unshakable will."
As for Captain America lifting Mjolnir during Endgame, while it seemed fitting, Anton thought it was more like Mjolnir, feeling overshadowed by Stormbreaker, deciding to "cheat" on Thor and metaphorically "green" him.
Thor ecstatic reaction—shouting, "I knew it!"—only added to the melodrama.
The soap opera-esque dynamics of it all were eye-opening, to say the least.
Anton released his grip on the hammer.
Before Thor obtained Stormbreaker, even if someone meeting the criteria tried to lift Mjolnir, the hammer wouldn't easily "open its heart" to them.
However, an idea lingered in his mind.
What if Wonder Woman, with her divine power, tried to wield Mjolnir? Would the hammer acknowledge her?
It might be worth testing later.
"Anton."
Suddenly, a somewhat familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
Turning, he saw Hawkeye.
"Though this is our first meeting, your name isn't unfamiliar to me—the Justice League official member and Batman representative," Hawkeye said, standing at the crater entrance, his sharp gaze fixed on Anton.
"Is there something you need?"
Anton returned Hawkeye gaze, his tone indifferent.
"I'm Clint Barton. You can call me Hawkeye," Barton replied, easing the intensity of his stare.
"I know you already know who I am, but I felt it necessary to formally introduce myself."
"If you have nothing important to say, I'd prefer to be left alone," Anton said plainly.
"One more thing."
Hawkeye lips curved slightly. "I'm glad you came."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Watching Hawkeye retreating figure, Anton couldn't shake the feeling that Barton visit wasn't entirely genuine.
A display of dominance, perhaps?
It didn't seem like a show of dominance.
Instead, it felt more like a kid who had lost a fight in the past, seeing a teammate of his opponent showing up on his turf and couldn't resist coming over to provoke—albeit subtly, without outright confrontation.
A test, perhaps?
Anton thought about it for a moment and began to understand Hawkeye awkward demeanor.
After Hawkeye greeted Anton, he went to find Coulson.
"You went to see Anton?"
Coulson had just finished reporting to headquarters. While he hadn't been tracking Hawkeye movements, he could guess why Hawkeye sought Anton out.
"How did it go?"
Coulson asked, "What your impression?"
"I can't figure him out," Hawkeye replied, shaking his head.
"He exudes this overwhelming confidence—so strong that nothing seems capable of shaking him.
From the way he speaks, it feels like he always a step ahead, as if everything is going exactly as he expected."
"They really do know a lot," Coulson sighed. "Things even S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't touched on yet."
As one of Nick Fury closest operatives, Coulson had noticed the subtle anxiety in Fury lately, despite his outward calm.
Recalling some of Fury private conversations with Batman in New York sent chills down Coulson spine.
Clearly, there were underlying issues within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Issues serious enough to threaten the very foundation of the decades-old organization.
"That why we place so much importance on the Justice League," Coulson said.
"If they only possessed extraordinary power or military might, they wouldn't warrant this level of attention.
The critical factor is their access to intelligence—information far beyond S.H.I.E.L.D. reach. They seem to be privy to many of the world true secrets."
"An information gap?" Hawkeye asked, frowning.
"Exactly. By leveraging that gap, the Justice League can lead S.H.I.E.L.D. by the nose… That what makes them truly dangerous," Coulson said.
He added, "From Anton recent actions, it clear he a core member of the Justice League.
While we can't expect him to betray the League, he doesn't seem as guarded against S.H.I.E.L.D. as Batman and the others.
Barton, we need to find a way to get more useful information out of Anton. It critical."
"I understand," Hawkeye said, nodding.
After a moment thought, he asked, "What headquarters saying?"
"Headquarters has left us to act on our judgment. However, they'll be monitoring closely and will provide immediate support if a crisis arises," Coulson said.
"Anton assured me that the Justice League would step in during critical moments."
"Who will they send?"
Hawkeye expression brightened with excitement as he thought of his "old rivals." This felt like a chance to redeem himself.
"Wonder Woman."
Coulson reply made Hawkeye freeze in place, turning to him in disbelief.
"Didn't see that coming, did you?"
Coulson shrugged. "I told you already—Wonder Woman, Diana Prince, is real."
At this moment, Thor was confined in a glass chamber within the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility—a highly advanced glass prison designed to prevent his escape.
In contrast to the original storyline, where Jane Foster and her team helped Thor break out of the facility, S.H.I.E.L.D. had preemptively brought the research team into the base "for a chat."
With a better grasp of the context, S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't view Jane Foster and her colleagues as crucial players.
However, considering the team might possess valuable information, they had decided not to release them for now.
The research team—Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis—and Thor were confined in the same area, separated by glass walls.
They stared at each other through the partitions in silence.
"I knew I shouldn't have come to save him," Darcy muttered gloomily.
"My life is ruined… What if this secret organization keeps me locked up here forever? I haven't even gotten married yet!"
"Darcy, please stop talking," Jane rolled her eyes. "I think there still hope for us."
"Who are you, really?" Erik Selvig asked Thor, his gaze sharp.
"This mysterious organization hasn't interrogated us yet.
They've confiscated all our research materials, backups, and even the backups of the backups.
It seems like they know exactly what they're doing."
"I'm Thor, the God of Thunder," Thor said, smiling calmly at the trio.
"Trust me, they won't keep us here for long."
"What do you mean?"
"They already know who I am. Once they confirm I'm not a threat, they'll have no reason to harm me.
As for you… you're of no real use to them. When the time is right, they'll let you go."
Thor seemed oddly at ease, finding humor in his predicament.
After learning of his father death from Loki, Thor had resigned himself to his exile, preparing to embrace life as an ordinary person.
Though impulsive, Thor wasn't foolish.
He understood S.H.I.E.L.D. perspective and was confident they wouldn't harm him as long as he posed no danger.
Even as an exile, he remained a prince of Asgard—a foreign power. On Earth, he had been revered as the God of Thunder, inspiring myths about Zeus.
With such a background, S.H.I.E.L.D. would tread carefully and avoid unnecessary risks.
What none of them realized was that, a few kilometers from the facility, a storm was brewing.
This storm was no ordinary weather—it was the result of a massive energy surge, as if someone had opened a spatial portal.
Bang!
Coulson was in the middle of a conversation with Hawkeye when a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent rushed in with a grave expression.
"Sir, we've detected a massive energy surge! It approximately 3 kilometers northwest of here—similar to the energy readings we recorded the other night."
"Grab your gear. We're going to check it out," Coulson ordered, already recalling Anton warning:
Thor isn't the threat.
Thor presence will draw in some kind of danger.
Could this surge be the danger Thor had inadvertently brought to Earth?
Coulson dared not relax. He quickly assembled a convoy and headed to the location indicated by their radar, where the energy readings peaked.
When they arrived, however, the scene was far from what they expected.
There was no enemy, no visible threat.
Instead, on the ground was a circular magic array.
The array was etched into the earth, its intricate patterns glowing faintly with residual energy.
But there was no one there.
"Too late?" Coulson muttered, his face darkening.
"Back to the base—immediately!" he barked.
Meanwhile
Four individuals dressed in peculiar outfits walked through the small town, heading toward the crater facility where Thor was being held.
These were Thor comrades from Asgard: the Warriors Three—Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral—and the valiant Lady Sif.
They had defied Loki orders as the acting ruler of Asgard, violating what could be deemed treason, to come to Earth and bring Thor home.
Despite the risks, they were undeterred, disillusioned by Loki actions and believing only Thor was fit to ascend the throne.
They were confident that once Thor reclaimed his rightful place as king, any charges against them would disappear.
As they approached the facility, Hogun senses heightened.
"Thor is inside."
"And so is Mjolnir," added Fandral.
"But Thor hasn't regained his godly power yet. Bringing him back to Asgard now—wouldn't that be too dangerous?" Sif questioned.
"We have no choice!" Volstagg declared firmly. "Even as a mortal, he is the rightful king of Asgard!"
"You're right," Sif conceded with determination.
Just as the group prepared to enter the crater facility, a man stepped out to block their path.
"I don't know who you are, but you're definitely not from Earth," Hawkeye said coldly, his sharp eyes scanning the four Asgardians.
Having been briefed by Coulson, he quickly pieced together that these newcomers were likely from Asgard.
Whoosh!
Hawkeye drew an arrow from his quiver, nocked it onto his bowstring, and aimed directly at the group.
His fingers glowed red-hot, the air around him shimmering with heat as the bow and arrow radiated a bright crimson light—an unmistakable sign of energy surging to the limit.
"I suggest you stop where you are and surrender," Hawkeye warned. "This isn't a place where you can come and go as you please."
"Earthling, here a friendly tip," Volstagg laughed heartily, dismissing Hawkeye words.
"We are not the mortals you think we are. Don't stand in our way, or you'll regret it."
"Let find out," Hawkeye replied coolly, releasing the bowstring. The arrow, charged with immense heat energy, shot forward like a streak of crimson lightning.
Boom!
Volstagg raised his battle axe and blocked the arrow with ease. He then turned to his companions, unfazed.
"You three go find Thor. I'll entertain this one."
Sif and the others nodded, leaping gracefully into the air and heading straight for the crater facility, paying no heed to Hawkeye warning.
"Are all off-world visitors this arrogant?" Hawkeye muttered, his expression cold as he drew another arrow and fired a barrage to halt Volstagg advance while maneuvering toward the facility himself.
His primary goal was to delay these intruders until Coulson returned.
Still, Hawkeye wasn't overly concerned.
Anton was still inside the crater.
Despite his personal misgivings about the Justice League, Hawkeye grudgingly acknowledged their strength.
Anton unwavering confidence during their earlier exchange remained vivid in his memory.
With that kind of assurance, dealing with a few off-world visitors shouldn't be an issue.
Besides…
"Wonder Woman."
The thought raced through Hawkeye mind.
"Daughter of Zeus… If real off-world visitors have shown up, then you should appear too."
"Thor!"
Sif found the glass prison where Thor was being held.
Before descending to Earth, they had pinpointed Thor exact location, ensuring they could locate him immediately to achieve their mission.
"Sif!" Thor exclaimed with joy. His face lit up as he pressed against the glass. "What are you doing here?"
"Not just me—Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun are here too," Sif replied. "We've come to bring you back to Asgard."
Bang!
As she spoke, Sif smashed the reinforced glass with all her strength.
Thor glanced at the nearby rooms where Jane Foster and her team were confined. Turning back to Sif, he said, "Do me a favor—help them out too."
"No problem," Sif agreed.
Moments later, Thor and the others emerged at the edge of the crater.
At that moment, Volstagg was still engaged in his battle with Hawkeye.
Meanwhile, Fandral and Hogun, having dispatched the remaining agents, spotted Sif and Thor. Their faces lit up with joy as they sprinted toward them.
"Thor, it so good to see you," Fandral said with relief.
"Likewise," Thor replied warmly.
"Guys, as much as I'm glad to see you, coming here puts you at risk of severe punishment," Thor said, his voice tinged with worry.
He glanced at the group, his expression resolute. "I'm not going back to Asgard with you."
"What?"
Sif and the others stared at him in shock.
This was not the Thor they knew.
"My father died because of me. I've decided to live as a mortal to atone for my past mistakes," Thor said solemnly.
"Thor," Sif said, exchanging a serious look with her companions. Then, she said firmly, "Your father is alive."
"What?"
Thor was stunned.
In that instant, memories of Loki words and his punishment for losing his powers came flooding back.
The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, and Thor realized there was more to this than he had understood.
Loki!
There was no doubt in his mind—this was his brother doing.
Meanwhile
Anton stood at the edge of the crater, watching the battle between Hawkeye and Volstagg with a peculiar expression.
He understood the intentions of the Asgardian quartet but didn't take them too seriously.
To him, this wasn't chaos—this was merely the calm drizzle before the storm.
When the real enemy arrived, that when the true chaos would erupt.
"I didn't expect Hawkeye to have been injected with the Extremis virus…"
Anton observed the fight with a hint of surprise.
His presence had already altered much of the storyline. While the overall arc remained intact, there were subtle, unpredictable changes along the way.
The sight of Hawkeye, Clint Barton, enhanced by Extremis, was a testament to these changes.
In the original plot, Hawkeye had never undergone any physical enhancements.
Yet here he was, glowing faintly with red energy as he fired arrows enhanced by the Extremis virus.
His arrows carried tremendous power, and when his quiver emptied, he seamlessly transitioned into melee combat with Volstagg, showcasing strength and agility beyond normal human limits.
Having once fought and defeated Aldrich Killian as Cyborg, Anton recognized the telltale signs of Extremis.
"So, Hawkeye decided to level up after getting outclassed by Batman and Green Arrow, huh?"
Anton thought this was entirely plausible.
Given S.H.I.E.L.D. vast resources, it wouldn't be difficult for them to replicate Extremis—especially after resolving its stability issues.
Moreover, with Tony Stark—the MCU undisputed genius—working as a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D., refining the Extremis formula would have been a walk in the park for him.
Screech!
A convoy of black SUVs skidded to a stop at the edge of the crater facility.
Coulson stepped out quickly, his expression darkening as he took in the situation.
He immediately spotted Hawkeye locked in combat with Volstagg and issued a decisive order to his team.
"Assist Hawkeye!"
"Understood."
The agents quickly grabbed their weapons and rushed toward the fight, heading in the direction of Thor and his group.
Sif, Fandral, and Hogun noticed the approaching agents. Without hesitation, they readied their weapons and prepared to break through with Thor.
At the same time, Coulson spotted Anton observing the scene with an almost detached demeanor.
"Where Wonder Woman?" Coulson demanded as he approached Anton, his tone grave. "You said she'd appear when the time was right. Isn't now that time?"
"This? A crisis?" Anton chuckled, spreading his hands. "You're joking, right? This is child play compared to what coming."
"What do you mean?" Coulson asked, frowning. He glanced at the Asgardians and then back at Anton.
"Are you saying they aren't the real threat?"
"Exactly. They're not your enemies," Anton confirmed.
"Coulson, call your people back. Save your resources. The real crisis is just around the corner."